Emetophobia / emetephobia / phagaphobia / vomitaphobia

Emetophobia (sometimes known as emetephobia, phagaphobia or voimitaphobia) is an irrational and intense fear of being sick. It is actually the sixth most common phobia in the UK. Vomitting is not a pleasant experience for any of us but for somebody who is unfortunate enough to suffer with emetophobia, even the idea of vomiting is absolutely terrifying.

Many sufferers find emetophobia or emetephobia totally governs their lives. They are unable to eat out in restauraunts or even eat socially at all. They avoid any place or situation where there is the possibility of either themselves or others being sick. The very thought or suggestion of being sick, even the written word, can lead to panic and distress.

Emetophobics tend to identify vomiting with dirt and germs and can be obsessive about hygiene and will also avoid places such as public toilets. Indeed many suffers may also have trouble with other hygiene related problems. Those suffering with emetophobia are often mistaken as having an eating disorder of some kind. This is because they tend to eat very little and as we have mentioned, rarely in public.

Emetophobia or emetephobia is frequently related to other fears such as choking, gagging, drowning, germs, hospitals and social phobia.

What is the difference between a fear and a phobia?

Generally speaking the main difference between a fear and a phobia is the severity of the emotional reaction. For example, a strong dislike of spiders is a fear - a person may feel uncomfortable around them, not want to go near one but that's as far as it goes. A phobia, on the other hand, is an irrational, uncontrollable, intense fear that can produce a physical reaction.

Why is hypnotherapy better that any other treatment for phobias?

Phobias in particular are often a symbolic reaction to a previous, unknown experience, frequently from early childhood. Using hypno-analysis, we can find the originating course of the phobia and release the 'bottled-up' emotions attached to it and thereby 'dissolving' the phobia. Most phobias are not directly related to the cause of the emotion but are a symbolic representation.
For example, many people suffer with a phobia or fear of flying (aviophobia or aviatophobia ) . Most have never experienced a plane crash but have an intense, physical fear of getting on an aeroplane. This is actually a fear of being out of control but their brain projects or symbolises this onto flying (aviophobia or aviatophobia ) . Hypnotherapy is therefore, very effective in the treatment of fears and phobias, as the originating cause is identified and the connected emotions released. The mind no longer has a need for protection and the phobia disappears. Other treatments may simply mask the symptoms - anti-anxiety drugs, for example, may help but they do not remove the cause.

How do I know the hypnotherapy will work for my phobia?

A phobia is 'an external symbolic interpretation of an internal anxiety. When someone finds his or herself in a situation that creates intense emotion, the person's subconscious mind has the ability to repress or 'bottle-up' these emotions if they are just too much to cope with. To guard against that person getting into a similar situation again, the 'psyche' then creates a phobia. For example, if a child was bitten by a dog, he is likely to develop a fear of dogs or if someone had a near drowning experience they may develop a fear of water (hydrophobia ) . However, many fears and phobias do not bear an obvious connection to any known experience and that is where hypno-analysis comes in. Every symptom has a cause so it is simply a case of finding that cause and the treatment will be successful.

My case is not that simple, how can hypnotherapy help me?

We are all different with different experiences and symptoms and every individual should be treated according to there own, personal set of circumstances. We offer everyone a free initial consultation to meet and discuss their personal needs and concerns and this way, we can offer the most appropriate treatment for that individual.

What other fears and phobias can be treated using hypnotherapy?

Just about any fear or phobia can be helped using hypnotherapy, including fear of flying ( aviophobia or aviatophobia ) , fear of being sick (emetophobia or emetephobia ) , fear of heights ( acrophobia or altophobia ) , fear of enclosed spaces ( cleithrophobia, cleisiophobia or clithrophobia ) , fear of open spaces ( agoraphobia ) , fear of crowds ( enochlophobia, demophobia or ochlophobia ) , fear of dogs ( cynophobia ) , fear of birds ( ornithophobia ) , fear of fire ( arsonphobia or pyrophobia ) , fear of water ( hydrophobia ) , fear of spiders ( arachnephobia or arachnophobia ) , to name but a few. The list is endless as anyone can develop a fear or phobia of absolutely anything.

 

Contact us now by email: help@headhighhypnotherapy.co.uk